An unusual discovery is making archaeologists and history buffs talk: in the region of el Hoshin Egypta was identified petroglyph unique that could represent the zodiac sign of Capricorn. The figure engraved on the rock, a hybrid between a goat and a fish, was brought to light by a team of researchers led by doctor Linda Evans of Macquarie University, in a study published in Journal of Egyptian Archaeology. This depiction is extraordinary: they had never been found before zodiac symbols in the’rock art Egyptian.
The discovery of the petroglyph occurred thanks to the work of Dr Frederick Hardtkewho spotted the image during an archaeological expedition:
The figure was found next to another equally rare image, a chameleon. Together they form an extremely enigmatic panel.
Dr. Evans, recognizing a possible connection with astrological iconography, decided to delve deeper:
At first we had classified it as a mythological animal, but the more I investigated, the more I realized that it could be Capricorn, a symbol linked to the zodiac.
What makes this representation even more interesting is its diversity compared to the Egyptian artistic tradition. Hybrid animals, such as Seth’s famous animal, were created by combining distinctive traits of different species to represent specific powers or characteristics. In this case, the resemblance to the zodiac “goatfish” is so strong that scholars believe that it is not a creature invented by the Egyptians, but a figure introduced by foreign influences.
From Mesopotamia to Egypt: the long journey of Capricorn
Capricorn’s roots lie in Mesopotamiawhere the god Enki (Ea for the Akkadians) was depicted with aquatic elements and symbolism linked to the constellations. This mythological figure then evolved into a more stylized representation of the “goat-fish”, as evidenced by cylinder seals from the period 2112-2004 BC
With time, the zodiac spread into Greece ea Romefinally arriving in Egypt around 300 BC, during the Ptolemaic period. Here, zodiac symbols began to appear in temples, such as those at Armant, and later on coins and funerary ornaments during the Greco-Roman era.
According to scholars, the petroglyph probably dates back to the period between the 1st century BC and the 2nd century AD, when Greco-Roman influence was at its peak in Egypt. The linear tail of Capricorn, visible in the engraving, is a detail that precedes the introduction of the ring-tailed version typical of the 2nd century AD
But why a zodiac symbol on a rock in the desert? Experts put forward several hypotheses. It could be an astronomical reference, used as a nocturnal navigation tool for the inhabitants of the region. Or, it may have been engraved by someone fascinated by astrological symbolism, inspired by a coin or other representation seen elsewhere, as Hardtke explains:
Let’s not forget that Egyptian rock art, after the advent of writing, suffered a decline in both quality and frequency. It is possible that the petroglyph was created in an approximate manner, perhaps reproduced from memory.
The proximity of the Capricorn petroglyph to that of the chameleon suggests that both were created at the same time, perhaps by the same hand. This detail reinforces the hypothesis that, during the Greco-Roman period, Egypt was a crossroads of cultures and artistic influences, where local populations also began to adopt foreign symbols as part of their cultural identity.
